Itยs hard to believe that just five years ago, this dance concert was a small-time variety show held at St. Johnยs School, with the modest mission to increase dance appreciation in Houston. It seems to have succeeded: Dance Houston 2007 has had to find vastly larger performance spaces, dance companies now compete for entry and itยs sprouted accessory events like dance camps, collaborative choreographersย projects and winter formals. This year, 13 groups will perform selections from their repertoires, making for an eclectic blend of modern, classical, hip-hop and international dance. Local stalwarts like Psophonia, Revolve and Barbara King Dance Company will join the up-and-comers in FLY Kids, the African-Diaspora-inspired Second Generation Dance Company and the spiritually charged performers of Urban Souls. It might be time to update that mission statement: ยCelebrationย seems more appropriate than ยappreciation.ย
This article appears in Aug 9-15, 2007.